History of Wakefield Ensemble

Wakefield Ensemble and its predecessor, the Wakefield Community Association, have for almost three decades led the way in capturing the imagination of residents and accomplishing projects that have brought lasting benefit and beauty to our village.

Wakefield Community Association

WCA, the precursor of Wakefield Ensemble, was formed in the early 1980’s and was active for about 10 years.

Its activities included:

Made strong objections to provincial and local governments and through the media for changes in highway signage policy, in process at the time, that would remove the Wakefield name from our main road signs and telephone directories.

Supported a campaign to keep the rail line to Wakefield in place, against strong, self-appointed forces determined to lift the tracks.

Promoted a highway by-pass of the village to alleviate traffic jams caused by large logging and other commercial trucks making their way along our main street on the only road then running north and south.

Formed a sub-committee to study how we could re-build the 1915 Gendron covered bridge that had been torched by arsonists in 1984. The resulting project was successful a decade later, accomplished with the help of hundreds of community volunteers and support and assistance from our municipality, the NCC, and other private entities. The Covered Bridge opened in 1997, to function as a footbridge and a link between the main village and the many new homes that had by this time sprung up on the east side. And, of course, as our landmark tourist attraction.

Promoted a clean-up of eyesore properties in the village, encouraging the painting and beautification of buildings and parks, including an annual flower and garden contest for homes and businesses. Also organized a Spring Clean-Up Day involving community volunteers, both adults and children, in the cooperation with the Municipality and local businesses.

Supported Commerce Wakefield in its campaign to beautify the village through uniform heritage-style business signs, as well as the purchase of flowers and wooden planters to perk up business fronts, arrange for better garbage containers and more frequent pick-ups, and perhaps to get a part-time paid caretaker for the village.

Decorated a community Christmas tree in Peace Park, and encouraged businesses to “Light up the Village” with matching soft white lights on their buildings.

Pressured the municipality to re-structure the Wakefield Spring to provide easier access, raising the spouts higher and providing a cover.

Applied to the municipality for lower speed limits on village streets.

Held a contest to find a design for a “Welcome to Wakefield” sign at entrance to village.

After obtaining permission from the private land owner of property along the rock cuts across from the old railway station restaurant, several WCA volunteers organized a clean-up to remove dead and fallen trees, unsightly debris, and tangled underbrush; also to kill poison ivy growing beside the sidewalk in cooperation with the Municipality.

The WCA did not succeed in its desire to get more attractive street lighting and improved pedestrian walkways in the village, including construction of a boardwalk along the river. These were left for others when in the early 1990s the association began to tire and falter after a decade of activity. It finally decided to discontinue its work just about the time the community was absorbed by drawn-out and divisive campaigns for and against a central sewage system to replace the polluting private septics along the village’s main streets.

Wakefield Ensemble

Some years after the WCA disbanded, Wakefield Ensemble was formed. There were new and developing needs, and changes in the village structure were in the offing, due in part to a strong desire for expansion resulting from the new central sewer system in the village. Because the new organization was envisioned as a permanent and responsible body, it was incorporated as a non-profit corporation under a provincial charter, with an elected Board of Directors.

For several years WE played a key role in the study and discussion of PPU reports, and in making input to urban planning for the future.

Under the WE banner, Ken Bouchard continued to build a network of walking trails in and around the village and its hills.

The Geggie and Peace Parks were upgraded in a major way by the WE committee around the year 2000, including the design plans and fund-raising needed to complete this work in cooperation with the Municipality.

WE volunteers de-brushed and cleaned up the neglected swimming area behind Turntable Park.

In May 2011 the current Board of Directors was elected, and WE is now continuing under its original charter.

[Thanks to Anita Rutledge for the notes on which this brief history is based.]